The Southern Regional Extension of Forestry

Issue 163: Week of November 13th, 2023

Highlights

Recent News

Regional News

• How Prescribed Fires Can Protect North Carolina Communities
• TNC Arkansas Hosted International Fire Training Exchange
• USFS Publishes Primer on the Effects of Fire in Eastern Oak Forests
• Longleaf Pine Alliance Releases Longleaf Sustainability Analysis
• Miami Waterkeepers Seeking Ideas for Green Infrastructure in Miami-Dade County
• American Longleaf Publishes Range-Wide Conservation Plan for 2025-2040

National News

• VT Forestry Releases July 2023 National Housing Report
• Log Truck Transportation Challenges and Innovative Solutions: Evaluating the Perspectives of Truck Drivers, Logging Business Owners, and Foresters
• Prescribed Burning Added to the USDA Climate-Smart Practice List for FY24
• International Oak Symposium Call for Abstracts

Webinars

Access previously listed webinars here.

• Forest Tech CONNECT Series: Bringing Intelligence to the Balancing Act: Timber Revenue, Carbon, and ESG
• SCIENCEx Experimental Forests and Ranges Webinar Series:
• Hydrology and Watersheds 
• Wildlife
• Fire 
• Looking Toward the Future 
• A Deep Dive into the Latest Cost and Trends of Managing Working Forests
• Best Management Practices for Forestry in Florida 

Funding Opportunities

• National Forest Foundation 2024 Matching Awards Program Nationwide Grant Opportunity
• ERME Announces Funding Opportunity for Projects Designed to Help Agricultural Producers Improve Economic Viability
• USDA Announces $188M Investment in Forestry Legacy Program

Job Opportunities

• Administrative Services Director 1 – TN Dept of Forestry
• Extension Specialist in Forestry – Univ. of Illinois
• Fire Management Unit Leader – TN Dept of Forestry
• Area Forester – Virginia Department of Forestry
• State Forester/Assistant Commissioner – TN Division of Forestry
• Endowed Director of the Wood Utilization and Design Institute – Clemson University
• Executive Director - Asheville GreenWorks
• Assistant Professor - Natural Resource Conservation & Management - Western Carolina University

How Prescribed Fires Can Protect North Carolina Communities

More than half of the wildfires that occur in the United States occur in the Southeast. In 2022, the South had approximately 39,000 wildfires. The North Carolina Great Lakes Fire on Croatan National Forest in April and May of 2023 showed how multi-year prescribed fire treatments aid in wildfire suppression, as previous prescribed burns created a defensible space for communities near Croatan and buffered the wildfire threat. The fire started in an upland swamp with many plants that have oils that made the flames burn with higher intensity, and within 24 hours the fire had spread 15 miles, close to 20,000 acres, with embers crossing road corridors. Standard firefighting techniques using active backburning did not stop the fire, but an area where that was recently burned in a prescribed fire did. To read more the effects of prescribed fires on wildfires, click here.

TNC Arkansas Hosted International Fire Training Exchange

In the spring, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Arkansas hosted colleagues and conservation partners from Columbia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guatemala, and Zambia during the 10th International Fire Exchange in Arkansas. The program aims to assist global fire management partners with the continued development of fire ecology, fire management planning, and other skills. Similarities in the Arkansas woodland and savanna ecosystems to those in Colombia, the DRC, Guatemala, and Zambia mean that exchange participants gain critical hands-on skills applicable to managing the unique ecosystems in their home countries. To learn more about this program, click here.

USFS Publishes Primer on the Effects of Fire in Eastern Oak Forests

The United States Forest Service (USFS) recently published a primer on using fire in the ecology and management of oak forests in the eastern United States. Fire creates an environment that allows the regeneration of oaks and other tree species and stimulates the germination of a diverse assemblage of herbaceous plants in the understory. Research has demonstrated how plant and wildlife species that require more open conditions occupy fire-maintained woodlands and savannas. Click here to access the full primer.

Longleaf Pine Alliance Releases Longleaf Sustainability Analysis

The Longleaf Pine Alliance (LPA) recently announced the release of the Longleaf Sustainability Analysis (LSA) v.1. This new longleaf ecosystem-centric map analysis was produced by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory and the University of Florida Center for Landscape Conservation Planning and guided by an LSA Working Group with funding from NRCS. The LSA combines map data about extant longleaf, suitable sites for restoration, landscape connectivity, and other factors related to sustainability to prioritize areas on the landscape for implementation of restoration and conservation actions. The resulting priority maps are intended to support the objectives of America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative’s (ALRI) Range-Wide Conservation Plan and other conservation work for the next 15 years. More information can be found here.

Miami Waterkeepers Seeking Ideas for Green Infrastructure in Miami-Dade County

Miami Waterkeepers is seeking ideas that will revitalize underutilized open spaces to reduce flooding, heat, and habitat loss. Miami Waterkeepers is a team of advocates for clean water that is swimmable, drinkable, and fishable for all, ecosystem protection and sea level rise resiliency. The team is asking residents and stakeholders of Miami-Dade County to suggest sites that they think can benefit from a green infrastructure program through their interactive map, Community Input Tool. Green infrastructure, a nature-based solution, involves redesigning communities to work with nature to provide flood protection, shade, habitat, water filtration, and green spaces. By implementing green infrastructure, Miami Waterkeepers hopes to manage climate risk and enhance quality of life for all who live in Miami-Dade. To learn more about the project and green infrastructure, click here.

American Longleaf Publishes Range-Wide Conservation Plan for 2025-2040

The American Longleaf recently published its second iteration of the Conservation Plan developed to guide continued efforts to reach the goal of eight million acres of longleaf pine forests in the Southeast. The vision of the conservation plan is to create functional, viable longleaf pine ecosystems with the full spectrum of ecological, economic, and social values inspired through a voluntary partnership of concerned motivated organizations and individuals. The previous conservation plan was posted in 2009, and while strategies and objectives have been updated to address current needs and challenges, the vision remains the same. This document will address the conservation plan spanning from 2025 to 2040. To access the new conservation plan and the first iteration, click here.

Longleaf Pine Alliance Releases Longleaf Sustainability Analysis

The Longleaf Pine Alliance (LPA) recently announced the release of the Longleaf Sustainability Analysis (LSA) v.1. This new longleaf ecosystem-centric map analysis was produced by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory and the University of Florida Center for Landscape Conservation Planning and guided by an LSA Working Group with funding from NRCS. The LSA combines map data about extant longleaf, suitable sites for restoration, landscape connectivity, and other factors related to sustainability to prioritize areas on the landscape for implementation of restoration and conservation actions. The resulting priority maps are intended to support the objectives of America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative’s (ALRI) Range-Wide Conservation Plan and other conservation work for the next 15 years. More information can be found here.

Miami Waterkeepers Seeking Ideas for Green Infrastructure in Miami-Dade County

Miami Waterkeepers is seeking ideas that will revitalize underutilized open spaces to reduce flooding, heat, and habitat loss. Miami Waterkeepers is a team of advocates for clean water that is swimmable, drinkable, and fishable for all, ecosystem protection and sea level rise resiliency. The team is asking residents and stakeholders of Miami-Dade County to suggest sites that they think can benefit from a green infrastructure program through their interactive map, Community Input Tool. Green infrastructure, a nature-based solution, involves redesigning communities to work with nature to provide flood protection, shade, habitat, water filtration, and green spaces. By implementing green infrastructure, Miami Waterkeepers hopes to manage climate risk and enhance quality of life for all who live in Miami-Dade. To learn more about the project and green infrastructure, click here.

American Longleaf Publishes Range-Wide Conservation Plan for 2025-2040

The American Longleaf recently published its second iteration of the Conservation Plan developed to guide continued efforts to reach the goal of eight million acres of longleaf pine forests in the Southeast. The vision of the conservation plan is to create functional, viable longleaf pine ecosystems with the full spectrum of ecological, economic, and social values inspired through a voluntary partnership of concerned motivated organizations and individuals. The previous conservation plan was posted in 2009, and while strategies and objectives have been updated to address current needs and challenges, the vision remains the same. This document will address the conservation plan spanning from 2025 to 2040. To access the new conservation plan and the first iteration, click here.

VT Forestry Releases July 2023 National Housing Report

Virginia Tech and the United States Forest Service (USFS) have recently released the July 2023 housing report which is a free service of Virginia Tech, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the US Forest Service. The reports are intended to help individuals gauge present and future activity in the housing market and contain data such as new housing starts, existing home sales, and construction spending. The reports also feature analyses on the overall economic impact of the housing market. There are two sections available, the full report can be accessed here. The report on economic conditions can be accessed here. Previous reports are archived here.

Log Truck Transportation Challenges and Innovative Solutions: Evaluating the Perspectives of Truck Drivers, Logging Business Owners, and Foresters

A new study from the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business at the University of Georgia recently analyzed the obstacles and transportation inefficiencies in the Georgia US wood supply chain. The wood supply chain in the US is experiencing significant challenges related to truck transportation, including obstacles such as driver recruitment and retention, increases in insurance and fuel costs, insufficient training, and truck or part shortages. They launched a survey to determine obstacles leading to a disconnection between logging business owners, foresters, and truck drivers. Four case studies were also conducted to evaluate innovative strategies that established businesses have enacted. Study results confirmed that there are numerous obstacles facing timber transportation, but also found agreement between drivers and business owners, as well as innovative strategies that are being used throughout the region to improve efficiency. To read the full study, click here.

Prescribed Burning Added to the USDA Climate-Smart Practice List for FY24

The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) recently added prescribed burning to its list of climate-smart practices. The climate-smart practice list includes agricultural and forestry activities that help mitigate climate change when applied appropriately. These activities can deliver quantifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and/or increases in carbon sequestration. This addition is based, in part, on the recent Fact Sheet “Opportunities for Research on Carbon Sequestration in Longleaf Pine Ecosystems” from Tall Timbes Research Center. Some reasons for adding prescribed fire includes new research findings, fire’s impact on carbon sequestration, and how fire interacts with soil. Learn more about the climate-smart practice list and access it here. Find the fact sheet here. 

International Oak Symposium Call for Abstracts

The University of Tennessee Knoxville is hosting the International Oak Symposium to provide a platform to exchange information and build collaboration around the best available science and technology on oak ecology and management for a global audience. The symposium will address the most current issues and complexities related to science-based management of oak species and forests at global, regional, and local scales.  There is a call for abstracts of oral or poster presentations. Oral presentations and posters should showcase research in silviculture, ecology, forest management, health, applied genetics, economics, forest products, or similar fields for a better understanding of oak regeneration, trees, stands, ecosystems, or landscapes. Oral presentations and posters on science-based collaborative projects or programs such as technology transfer, tree improvement, or other initiatives are also welcome. The deadline for abstract submission is January 19. To learn more about the event and the call for abstracts, click here. 

Introduction to Prescribed Fire Online Course

The SCIENCEx webinar series brings together scientists and land management experts from across U.S. Forest Service research stations and beyond to explore the latest science and best practices for addressing large natural resource challenges across the country. These webinars will be primarily management focused, but with applicability for participants from across sectors. SCIENCEx will typically be organized as a week-long webinar ‘blitzes’ around salient topics, allowing for deep dives into subtopics or dynamics within specific geographies. Click here to register.

Join Remsoft presenters Adam Archibald, Client Manager, and Ian Lodge, Lead Analyst, as they showcase how to apply optimization to balance economic, social, and environmental forest management objectives. You’ll learn to identify the basics of linear programming optimization, discuss how optimization is applied to multi-objective forest management, and described how optimization is applied to carbon project planning. Click here to register.

NC Community Tree Webinar: Documentation and Conservation of Champion Big Trees in Urban Forests

The SCIENCEx webinar series brings together scientists and land management experts from across U.S. Forest Service research stations and beyond to explore the latest science and best practices for addressing large natural resource challenges across the country. These webinars will be primarily management focused, but with applicability for participants from across sectors. SCIENCEx will typically be organized as a week-long webinar ‘blitzes’ around salient topics, allowing for deep dives into subtopics or dynamics within specific geographies. Click here to register.

The Cost and Cost Trends of Southern U.S. Forestry Practices Survey has been conducted periodically from 1952 through the current survey. The Forest Landowners Foundation in partnership with Dr. Adam Maggard of Auburn University has worked in recent years to get the survey into a workable online format resulting in significantly more responses. This online landowner learning session will go through the results of the latest survey data including planting, herbicide application, prescribed fire and more. The full report will be available in Forest Landowner Magazine in the November/December issue. Register here. 

A Deep Dive Into the Latest Cost and Trends of Managing Working Forests

The SCIENCEx webinar series brings together scientists and land management experts from across U.S. Forest Service research stations and beyond to explore the latest science and best practices for addressing large natural resource challenges across the country. These webinars will be primarily management focused, but with applicability for participants from across sectors. SCIENCEx will typically be organized as a week-long webinar ‘blitzes’ around salient topics, allowing for deep dives into subtopics or dynamics within specific geographies. Click here to register.

The SCIENCEx webinar series brings together scientists and land management experts from across U.S. Forest Service research stations and beyond to explore the latest science and best practices for addressing large natural resource challenges across the country. These webinars will be primarily management focused, but with applicability for participants from across sectors. SCIENCEx will typically be organized as a week-long webinar ‘blitzes’ around salient topics, allowing for deep dives into subtopics or dynamics within specific geographies. Click here to register.

TREE Fund Webinars: Analyzing Timing and Causes of Individual Tree Loss After Land Development: Insights for Urban Forest Management

Timber Tax: Landowner Issues and Considerations 

Technical training designed to educate forestry professionals, landowners, and land managers about Florida’s Silviculture Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water quality and the Florida Forestry Wildlife Best Management Practices for State Imperiled Species (WBMPs). Register here. 

2023 NAISMA Annual Biocontrol Summit

2023 RWFM Stewardship Webinar Series: Minimizing Drift on Grazing Lands

NC Community Tree Webinar: How to Recruit and Retain Women and Under-represented Groups in Arboriculture 

FLA’s Year in Policy 2023

Arborist Short Course Series 

Tree Tenders Training Series

National Forest Foundation 2024 Matching Awards Program Nationwide Grant Opportunity

Through the Matching Awards Program (MAP), the NFF is soliciting proposals to provide funds for projects that directly benefit America’s National Forests and Grasslands. MAP pairs federal funds provided through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Forest Service with non-federal dollars raised by award recipients, multiplying the resources available to benefit the National Forest System. Projects funded under this program will focus on in-person community engagement, include stewardship activities, and aim to inspire lasting change. Projects are funded via the United States Forest Service (USFS) and must take place on US National Forests and Grasslands or adjacent public lands. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments and organizations, and universities. Eligible projects are no more than 18 months in duration. An informational webinar will be held on December 4. The application deadline for round 1 applications is January 16. Learn more about this funding opportunity here. 

USDA Announces $188M Investment in Forestry Legacy Program

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Legacy Program (FLP)will invest $188 million dollars towards conserving some of the nation's most economically and ecologically significant forestlands. The FLP, administered by the US Forest Service (USFS) in coordination with state forestry agencies, protects environmentally significant forest areas that are otherwise threatened by conversion to non-forest use. By helping to prevent the loss and fragmentation of working forests, the program encourages sustainable forest management and supports sustainable markets for forest products. The FLP has two funding sources, Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) allocated by Congress and funding that has been made available through the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). As a result, there are now two separate annual application cycles for LWCF and IRA funding. To learn more about the FLP program and access the funding announcements click here. For a complete list of fiscal year 2023 projects, or to learn how states can apply for fiscal year 2024 funding, click here. 

ERME Announces Funding Opportunity for Projects Designed to Help Agricultural Producers Improve Economic Viability

The Southern Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Center in conjunction with the North Central, Northeastern, and Western Centers has recently announced a competitive funding opportunity for educational projects designed to help agricultural producers improve their economic viability through targeted risk management strategies. This announcement seeks applications from qualified public and private groups, organizations, and institutions including land grant colleges and universities, Cooperative Extension, other colleges and universities, and other public and private entities with a demonstrated capacity to develop and deliver results/impact-based risk management education projects for agricultural producers and their families. This funding opportunity is specifically designated for the delivery of risk management education to agricultural producers underserved by the Federal crop insurance program, with proposed educational programming that aligns with one or more of the five areas of risk: production, marketing, financial, legal or human. To learn more or apply for funding, click here. 

Administrative Services Director 1 – TN Dept of Forestry

The Tennessee Department of Forestry is seeking an administrative services director to be based in Davidson County. Responsibilities include overseeing several administrative functions of the TN Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry. The functions include budgets, facility maintenance and capital projects, workforce development and the USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program. The application deadline November 23. Click here to learn more and apply.

Extension Specialist in Forestry – Univ. of Illinois

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences seeks an Extension Specialist in Forestry to provide leadership, outreach, technical guidance, and educational programming in areas that may include urban and community forestry, agroforestry, arboriculture, and climate change resilience. This position will also provide undergraduate level instruction in dendrology (and potentially other courses). The position will be responsible for conducting applied research that informs forestry needs in the State of Illinois. Some outreach and extension duties include developing an innovative Extension Program with a focus on urban and community forestry, agroforestry, arboriculture, or climate change; providing outreach, education, training, programming, and technical guidance to your primary constituents, The deadline to apply is 6:00 pm CST on November 24. Click here to learn more and apply.

Fire Management Unit Leader – TN Dept of Forestry

The Tennessee Department of Forestry is seeking a fire management unit leader to be based in Davidson County. The Fire Management Unit Leader is responsible for managing programs and services that minimize damage to Tennessee forest resources and risk to public/firefighter safety caused by wildfire and coordinates assistance to and from other federal, interstate, and intrastate agencies and municipalities responding to wildfire and other all-hazard emergency situations. The application deadline is November 15. Learn more and apply here.

Area Forester – Virginia Department of Forestry

The Virginia Department of Forestry is seeking to hire an Area Forester for our Rappahannock District in the Central Region. Area Foresters spend most of their time outdoors providing professional forestry advice and assistance to private landowners. This is a full-time remote position. Learn more and apply here.

State Forester/Assistant Commissioner – TN Division of Forestry

The Tennessee Forestry Commission is soliciting resumés for the position of Tennessee State Forester. This is a full-time position in Nashville, TN. A bachelor's degree in forestry from an institution accredited by the Society of American Foresters and a minimum of five (5) years of full-time experience in the management of state, federal or private forests is a minimum requirement. Click here to learn more or apply.

Endowed Director of the Wood Utilization and Design Institute – Clemson University

Clemson University invites applications for the position of Patricia “Pat” Layton Endowed Directorship of the Wood Utilization Design Institute (WUD). The position is a 12-month faculty (or faculty equivalent) appointment with responsibilities in external relations and industry partnerships, facilitation of collaborative grantsmanship and research, public policy and government affairs, building collaborations within and outside of Clemson University, and WUD administration. Although this position does not have a formal teaching assignment, there will be opportunities for guest lecturing, seminar organization, and speaking engagements to represent Clemson WUD. The anticipated start date is May 2024. To learn more or apply, click here.

Executive Director - Asheville GreenWorks 

GreenWorks is seeking to fill a full-time, 40 hours a week, Executive Director position based in Asheville, NC. Responsibilities of this role will include: working with the board to share the organization’s mission, diversifying fundraising strategies, overseeing planning and budgeting systems, and acting as the public face of the organization. The key priorities of this role are securing a diversified revenue stream, investing in infrastructure and internal capacities, leading staff, and prioritizing equity. The candidate should be an effective communicator, have values aligned with the company, have had past experience in leadership, and demonstrate commitment to climate and sustainability issues. This role will ideally start in January of 2024. To apply, send a letter of interest and resume in PDF form to careers@ashevillegreenworks.org. This position will remain open until it is filled. Resume review will begin in mid-October. Click here to learn more about GreenWorks. More information and the application can be found here.

Assistant Professor - Natural Resource Conservation & Management - Western Carolina University

Faculty in the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources (GNR) at Western Carolina University (WCU) are seeking applications for a 9-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Conservation and Management position located on the Cullowhee Campus. The candidate should have a background in forestry or a closely related field, and have an interest in fire ecology. Courses to be taught include forest management and silviculture as well as dendrology, natural resource measurements, and other topics related to the candidate’s area of expertise, in addition to WCU’s general education curriculum. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and the ability to develop a research program that provides experiential learning opportunities for students while also contributing to community service. This position will begin August 2024 and will remain open until it is filled. Review of applications will begin on November 10, 2023. This job was posted September 8. For more information on this position, click here.

November 16 | Tamassee, SC

2023 SC Shortleaf Conference

The SC Forestry Commission will be hosting our first-ever shortleaf conference this November at the agency's Piedmont Forestry Center near Tamassee for the landowners and foresters in upstate South Carolina. The conference topics include shortleaf pine's fire resistance, timber potential, and suitability for wildlife habitat enhancement. Registration opens on August 15. To learn more, contact Carla Castro at SC Forestry Commission. 

November 28 | Wilson, NC

Carolina Canopy Workshop: Tree Ordinance, Eastern Region

In sum, the workshop will open with two presentations by Keith O'Herrin (urban forester for Union County) and Joseph Joyner (project manager of urban forestry at Davey Resource Group). They will address the complexities of how you can implement and enforce tree protection ordinances. Representatives from local municipalities will also be present to provide case study reports of how they have updated and implemented their own tree protection ordinances in recent years. Click here to learn more and register. 

November 29 | Statesville, NC

Carolina Canopy Workshop: Tree Ordinance, Western Region

In sum, the workshop will open with two presentations by Keith O'Herrin (urban forester for Union County) and Joseph Joyner (project manager of urban forestry at Davey Resource Group). They will address the complexities of how you can implement and enforce tree protection ordinances. Representatives from local municipalities will also be present to provide case study reports of how they have updated and implemented their own tree protection ordinances in recent years. Learn more and register here.

December 4-8 | Monterey, CA

10th International Fire Congress

The Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) in cooperation with the California Fire Science Consortium is hosting the 10th International Fire Ecology and Management Congress in Monterey, California on December 4-8, 2023. The event will include workshops, field trips, three full days of presentations, group discussions around the theme, and networking opportunities. To learn more about the fire congress, and abstract submissions, click here.

December 6-7 | Greensboro, NC

Winyer 2023 Certified Arborist Prep Course & Review

Participants of this two-day workshop will receive professional instruction that improves their technical competency as an arborist in the tree care industry. As sponsors of this preparatory course, the NC Urban Forest Council, NC Cooperative Extension, and Southern Chapter of ISA seek to accomplish the following objectives: Create incentives for nascent arborists to continue their professional development, and provide the public with a means to identify tree care professionals who have demonstrated trusted competency in tree care practices, through a professionally developed education program and exam. Learn more and register here.

December 11-12 | Athens, GA

14th Southern Forestry and Natural Resource Management GIS Conference

The University of Georgia and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources are inviting researchers and professionals in forestry and natural resource management to a conference devoted to issues and advances in the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and related mapping and spatial technologies. A call for presenters and posters is now available. Click here to learn more.

December 12 | Austin, TX

White Tail Deer Management Program

Join Prairie View A&M University for an exciting event focused on managing white tail deer populations!Come to the Austin Water Center for Environmental Research and learn about effective strategies for managing white-tail deer. Our knowledgeable speakers will share their expertise and provide valuable insights. Register here.

February 3 | Tallahassee, FL

Red Hills Fire Festival

Mark your calendar for the 2024 return of the Red Hills Fire Festival hosted at Tall Timbers. This all-ages educational event about prescribed fire and its benefits is hosted in the Red Hills on even years. Odd-years feature the Flatwoods Fire & Nature Festival in Gainesville. After missing 2022 during the pandemic, we are excited to invite community members back out in 2024 to learn about prescribed fire in a casual and fun setting. Learn more here. 

February 6-8 | Baton Rouge, LA

SAF Rising Professionals Conference

This brand-new annual event is tailored specifically for young professionals (under 40 years old) and students in natural resources and forestry! Themed “The Role of Innovations in Forestry,” the 2024 SAF Rising Professionals Conference will allow attendees to delve into the latest sector tech and broaden their professional circle, all while participating in presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on trainings on technology and leadership. Learn more and register here.

February 20-22 | Turrialba, Costa Rica

18th North American Agroforestry Conference (NAAC)

The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), an international institute for agricultural development and biological conservation in Central America and the Caribbean will host the 18th NAAC. To learn more about this event, click here.

March 4-15 | Marshfield, MO

Southern Missouri TREX

All practitioners are welcome at this event hosted by The Nature Conservancy with support from a USFS Cohesive Strategy grant. See the announcement for details, including course and gear requirements. Nominations are due by November 10. Learn more here.

March 22-24 | Roanoke, VA

2024 Forest Farming Conference

The Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition's (ABFFC) Gather to Grow multi day Forest Farming Conference will be held in Roanoke, Virginia from March 22-24, 2024, and feature learning, networking, and strategic planning programs that will shape the future of forest farming of woodland crops such as botanicals, mushrooms, and decorative products in Appalachia and beyond. Click here to learn more.

April 2-3 | Tucson, AZ

USFS FIA User Group Meeting

The next in-person FIA User Group meeting will be held on April 2-3, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona. For those who are interested in extending their stay, NCASI will also be tentatively hosting a session the morning of April 4th. Registration and hotel information coming in December. We have several important updates and new resources to share. Please read each update below and feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas. As always, please visit and bookmark the FIA User Group webpage for the latest information. Click here to learn more.

April 14-19 | Albuquerque, NM

National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER)

The Society of Ecological Restoration and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF IFAS) are jointly sponsoring the National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER) on April 14-19, 2024, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. NCER is a premier gathering of ecosystem restoration professionals that brings together scientists, engineers, policy makers, planners, and partners from across the United States. The deadline for abstract submission is September 1, 2023. Click here to learn more.

April 15-19 | Boise, ID

7th International Fire Behavior and Fuel Conference

The 7th International Fire Behaviour and Fuels Conference offers a forum where past Fire Management experience and lessons learned are documented, current work showcased, and emerging research, innovation, and techniques on fire management are shared, towards developing integrated solutions to these challenges. Learn more here. 

April 16-17 | Eufaula, AL

Alabama Forest Owners' Association ANnual Meeting

Richard Cristan is organizing a field trip on the 16th to look at Best Management Practices for Water Quality. Learn more here.

June 22-25 | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

ACF National Conference - Florida's Forests: Fire & Rain

The 2024 ACF National Conference will be held June 22-25 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Registration will open in February 2024. Click here to learn more.